A Critical Examination of the Federal Structure in the Globalized World

“Federalism is a form of government in which local, regional, and state governments work in tandem with the federal government. It entails power distribution and decision-making authority, with each assignee carrying out specified rights and all other authorities being distributed equally between the center and the state. The central government is the sole governing body with the power to produce money, assemble and command an army, and declare war. States, at the intermediate level of government, are the sole bodies with the power to control subjects like education, criminal and civil law, etc. One of the most interesting federal structures in the world may be the Indian style of federalism. Indian federalism is underlined in the “seventh schedule of the Indian Constitution,” which specifies the three lists—the concurrent list, the state list, and the union list—over which each has control. The state list covers the powers and functions that the state must carry out, while the union list deals with the powers and functions that the union must handle. The state list specifies the authorities and functions of the state, whereas the union list delegates decision-making authority to the central government. Center and state have equal decision-making authority on the concurrent list. Examining federations like the United States, Canada, and India, in comparison, requires an understanding of federalism as a concept. India and Canada were established out as quasi-federations, eventually becoming federations over time.